I suffered more anxiety than most of my fellow-slaves. . . . Their backs had been made familiar with the bloody lash, so that they had become callous; mine was yet tender; for while at Baltimore I got few whippings. . . .

Question

—Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,
Frederick Douglass

Look for antonym context clues to help you determine the meaning of the word callous and then choose the meaning of callous from these choices.

unfeeling
bloody
sensitive
worry

Answer 1

The word "callous" in this context refers to being emotionally insensitive or unfeeling. Since Douglass mentions that his fellow slaves' backs had become "familiar with the bloody lash" and they had become "callous," it implies that they have become unfeeling or indifferent to pain due to their experiences. In contrast, he describes his own back as "yet tender," suggesting that he is still sensitive to pain and suffering.

Based on this analysis, the correct meaning of "callous" from the choices provided is:

unfeeling.